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ASLA 2026 Design Academy for K-12 Educators Reimagined

The American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) is excited to announce the return of its Design Academy for K–12 Educators, July 12-16, 2026, in an expanded and reimagined professional development experience for teachers interested in landscape architecture and interdisciplinary learning.

Due to overwhelming interest, registration capacity for the 2026 academy has doubled, allowing even more educators to participate in this unique hands-on learning opportunity in Washington, DC.

The 2026 program will feature an exciting new lineup of curated site tours highlighting innovative, community-driven projects designed by leading landscape architects. Participants will explore how environmental design connects to a variety of subjects STEM to history, geography, visual arts, literature, civics, and social studies while experiencing the built environment firsthand.

Guided Community Building & Professional Inspiration

Together, site tours and Lesson Design Studios will  inspire educators with practical tools, collaborative learning, and real-world examples that help students better understand the relationship between people, place, and the environment. View photo highlights above.

In addition to immersive tours and presentations from practicing landscape architects, this year’s design academy will place a stronger emphasis on curriculum development. Dedicated workshop sessions will give participating educators time and support to design their own lesson plans, classroom activities, and interdisciplinary projects inspired by the design academy experience.

Selected sites include:

  • Innovative urban parks and waterfronts
  • Award-winning playgrounds and schoolyards
  • Green roofs and sustainable infrastructure projects
  • Memorials, cultural landscapes, and civic spaces
  • Community-centered public realm projects throughout Washington, DC

ASLA's 2026 Design Academy for K-12 Educators would not be possible without the generous support of the ASLA Fund, its sponsors, and staff.

  • Confluence 
  • Donnelly Partners 
  • Grissim Metz Andriese Associates, Inc. In Memory of John N. Grissim, FASLA
  •  Michael Thomasgard

View the full photo gallery from ASLA’s 2025 Design Academy for K-12 Educators workshop.

Past ASLA Fund Sponsors

PREMIER SPONSOR 

  • Maglin 

LEADERSHIP SPONSORS 

  • Confluence 
  • OJB 

CHAMPION SPONSORS 

  • Corvus Design, Inc. 
  • Craig Bergmann Landscape Design Inc 
  • Donnelly Partners 
  • Foundation for Sustainability and Innovation
  • Four and One 
  • Restaino Design Landscape Architecture 

SUPPORTING SPONSORS 

  • Angela Dye 
  • Anonymous Donors 
  • Dirtworks Landscape Architecture 
  • Emma Kelly Landscape, LLC 
  • Nicholas Reed 
  • Phyto Studio LLC 
  • Rodney Swink 
  • Steve Spicer 
  • SuLin Kotowicz 
  • Supermass Studio 
  • Upland Design Ltd 
  • Urban Play Studio LLC 
  • Wendie McAllaster

American Meadows, Inc.

Presenting Sponsor

  • Thomas J Nieman, PhD, RLA, FASLA, Professor Emeritus, University of Kentucky.

GENERAL SPONSORS

  • SmithGroup

SUPPORTING SPONSORS

  • Boston Agricultural College
  • BrightView
  • Confluence
  • Tom Mroz
  • John Troy  

Please direct questions about ASLA’s Design Academy for K-12 Educators and other Career Discovery programming activities to Lisa J. Jennings, Senior Manager, Career Discovery and Diversity at [email protected].